familiarity
noun
fa·mil·iar·i·ty
fə-ˌmi-lē-ˈ(y)er-ə-tē 
-ˈ(y)a-rə-;
-ˌmil-ˈyer-,
-ˌmil-ˈya-rə-
plural familiarities
2
a
: absence of ceremony : informality
b
: an unduly informal act or expression : impropriety
c
: a sexual liberty
3
: close acquaintance with something
Synonyms
Examples of familiarity in a Sentence
He spoke to everyone with the easy familiarity of an old friend.
the elderly couple enjoys a familiarity that is the result of many years of happy marriage
Recent Examples on the Web
Food nostalgia is like a time machine that whisks you away to moments filled with warmth and familiarity, all triggered by the simple act of tasting a beloved dish.
—
Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 21 Apr. 2024
That familiarity helped the duo find common respect ahead of their partnership.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 12 Apr. 2024
Guests at this 120-room hotel can expect the typical Hyatt Centric experience and style that aims to mix the familiarity of a big brand with the feeling of a local boutique hotel.
—Katherine Alex Beaven, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2024
Related James LaBrie: What was evident to each of us was there was a familiarity.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 8 Apr. 2024
The situation has prompted exasperation in the Pentagon, considering WCK’s standing as a force for good and its professionalism and familiarity in handling such missions, a senior defense official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
—Louisa Loveluck, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
Yet this lack of familiarity enabled him to craft a new way of interacting with the world, one that turned diplomacy into performance art for the masses.
—Rohan Mukherjee, Foreign Affairs, 4 Apr. 2024
The measures are crucial, given Taiwan's familiarity with earthquakes.
—Emily Feng, NPR, 4 Apr. 2024
And there certainly is a need for competitive fixtures beyond the familiarity of the region.
—Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 21 Apr. 2024
That familiarity helped the duo find common respect ahead of their partnership.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 12 Apr. 2024
Guests at this 120-room hotel can expect the typical Hyatt Centric experience and style that aims to mix the familiarity of a big brand with the feeling of a local boutique hotel.
—Katherine Alex Beaven, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2024
Related James LaBrie: What was evident to each of us was there was a familiarity.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 8 Apr. 2024
The situation has prompted exasperation in the Pentagon, considering WCK’s standing as a force for good and its professionalism and familiarity in handling such missions, a senior defense official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
—Louisa Loveluck, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
Yet this lack of familiarity enabled him to craft a new way of interacting with the world, one that turned diplomacy into performance art for the masses.
—Rohan Mukherjee, Foreign Affairs, 4 Apr. 2024
The measures are crucial, given Taiwan's familiarity with earthquakes.
—Emily Feng, NPR, 4 Apr. 2024
And there certainly is a need for competitive fixtures beyond the familiarity of the region.
—Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'familiarity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near familiarity
Cite this Entry
“Familiarity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/familiarity. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
familiarity
noun
fa·mil·iar·i·ty
fə-ˌmil-ˈyar-ət-ē
-ˌmil-ē-ˈar-
plural familiarities
1
: close friendship : intimacy
2
: lack of formality : freedom and ease in personal relations
3
: close acquaintance with or knowledge of something
4
: an overly bold act or expression
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share